The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday in Abuja threatened to prosecute a cartel involved in illegal street naming in the nation’s capital.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, disclosed this at a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He added that the legal battle between FCTA and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) over the matter would soon be resolved amicably, with the understanding of all stakeholders.
Shuaibu said that while the ruling of the FCT High Court on the street naming had been appealed, all stakeholders, including the AMAC leadership had agreed to set up an interagency committee to consider all factors around it.
Shuaibu clarified that FCTA was not taking over AMAC’s responsibilities, but doing what the law permitted it as a major provider of infrastructure in the Capital City.
He equally noted that its intervention in the issue was to restore the integrity of the process, alleging that investigation had exposed unscrupulous individuals who were adulterating it for personal gains, using AMAC as a cover.
Shuaibu said: ” The existence of a cartel who are operating for their personal aggrandisement using the AMAC as a cover.
“Even the AMAC leadership is not aware of the extent of the damage and quantum of corruption perpetrated in the name of street naming under it.
”As such, the FCTA is going to engage the anti-corruption agencies to ensure that all those involved in the infamous activities are brought to books or face the wrath of the law.”
On his part, the Executive Chairman, AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu stated that his council was interested in having a harmonised process for the purpose of achieving a desired result.
While he claimed ignorance of the rot in the street naming process, Maikalangu saidbthat the committee in charge of it had been in place before he came into office.
He, however, assured that the council would co-operate with FCTA on the issue to find a lasting and mutually beneficial solution.
